In (1 Thessalonians 3:3) the Apostle Paul tells his readers: “so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them.” My friends when we become Christians it is so important that we realize early on in our walk with the Lord that the Christian experience, though filled with joy, is also filled with many trials and sometimes intense suffering.
In fact, when it came to the Apostle Paul we read: “But the Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.’” (Acts 9:15-16). While most Christians will probably not have to suffer as much as Paul did, nevertheless, trials and suffering are part of the Christian experience we will also face as we travel with Jesus.
Sadly, many Christians have had their faith destroyed by believing the false prosperity gospel, that is so popular in many Christian circles, that when you become a Christian you will become wealthy and healthy. While you may, there is no assurance that following Christ will result in material wealth and physical health. Instead, what is promised is many trials as we endeavor to serve Jesus and advance His kingdom.
In fact, trials are a necessary part of the Christian package for several reasons.
First, when we really want to serve Jesus by sharing the message of the gospel, by and large, we will not be very popular since the majority of the world doesn’t want to hear that they are sinners who are going to hell unless they come to Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins. In many countries this message will get you persecuted verbally and physically by those who hate the gospel. These trials of persecution and suffering, while not pleasant are a necessary part of being a Christian, and in fact prove our message is having an impact.
Second, because we live in a broken world, Christians are subject to many of the trials that the non-Christian are subject to. Disease, accidents, broken relationships, and even the death of loved ones happen to all of us. Fortunately, for the believer in Christ, he has many coping mechanisms that non-believers don’t have. He knows that no matter how difficult the trial, he can cast all his cares on Christ and know that He will see him through. He also knows that even death is not the end for him because eternal life awaits on the other side of this life.
And third, God will often use trials to build up our faith by teaching us to trust Jesus more and more. This building up of our faith allows us to praise God, even in the dark times, thus bringing glory to the Lord. And isn’t this one of the main purposes of life to bring glory to Jesus. Trials help us become more dependent on the Lord and develop a more intimate relationship with Jesus. And I can’t think of a more rewarding blessing than to be close to Christ.
In closing, I challenge you to meditate on the following portion of Scripture from (1 Peter 1:3-9) which links trials with great joy. These verses can provide you with great comfort and joy during any and every storm of life:
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”